Family pay tribute to theatre lover (From Bucks Free Press)

Family pay tribute to theatre lover

3:47pm Thursday 14th February 2013 in News By Rebecca Cain

A MUM and grandmother who played a big part in the theatre world in Bucks has died aged 76.

Jenny Tipper died peacefully in her sleep on January 23. She lived in Aylesbury from 1985 but previously lived in Bourne End, where she moved to in the late 60s.

Jenny leaves behind daughters, Frances, Philippa and Stephanie and two grandsons. Stephanie, who lives in Aylesbury, said her mum played a big part in amateur dramatics for about 30 years.

From the late 1960s to early 1990s she was a director and producer with the Bourne End, Maidenhead and Slough Operatic Societies.

She was also a major contributor to the annual Wooburn Festival, putting on productions and workshops for more than 20 years. At first she was a performer but then moved into producing and directing.

Stephanie said: "This is the thing. She was, according to people who saw her, a talented actress. She didn't put herself on stage very often.

"She might do a bit part but she liked to direct and produce and get the things off the ground."

She always liked to try out new shows and just loved the theatre.

Stephanie said: "Always from a young age right up to school she was so keen on theatre and she was in some of her school plays, of course."

Jenny was originally from York and went The Mount School. In the year above was Judi Dench. Stephanie said: "She was able to go on and train.

"Unfortunately my mum's family didn't have the means.

"It was on the amateur stage where my mum fulfilled her dreams.

"She always wanted theatre to be for everyone. She did quite a lot of things that involved young people."

Following her move to Aylesbury, after her divorce from her husband, Alan, she continued her passion for theatre by working for Bucks Arts, developing youth groups and supporting new artists.

Her mother also thoroughly enjoyed watching theatre and they have a filing cabinet full of programmes.

So what did she love about it?

Stephanie said: "Just the world that can be created. The immediacy of it. The sheer imagination of different productions of the same play.

"She had very eclectic taste. She would go to see everything."

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